Hebrews 12:18-29 A Kingdom that Cannot Be Shaken

Intro: Earthquakes

Kari Morse

Whenever you tour ancient ruins or sites you will often notice that the cities are on these mini-hills

Those hills are called Tels

They are man made mounds that were intended to stave off opposing armies

It is harder to attack an enemy going uphill

Those tels came about by building on top of the remains of cities that had crumbled or been attacked and needed to be rebuilt

The goal was to build a city that couldn’t be shaken

Unfortunately, even if you built an impenetrable fortress the elements or an earthquake would bering the city down

Today, Jesus shows us His kingdom cannot be shaken

We are shown what we need to do to get ready for His return

It starts with making a choice and the writer of Hebrews uses the metaphor of choosing between two Mountains

Read Hebrews 12:18-21

Transition: Standing on Mount Sinai

A year ago I stood at the base of Mount Sinai in Saudi Arabia

David Guzik at Mount Sinai

Mount Sinai is lifeless

There is vegetation that grows and there are no animals that inhabit it

That is where God chose to deliver the Law to His people

In retrospect, there was a purpose

The law doesn’t bring life, only Jesus does

If you choose a life that is measured by the law you will always be dead on the inside

If you

Mountain of Fear vs. 18-21

Mount Sinai represented a life of fear

When we live our life based on fear we will always longing for more

vs. 18 A Mountain on Fire

Mount Sinai was where the cloud of God’s presence rested

You couldn’t touch it because everything that did died

Exodus 19:12 ESV

And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death.

It was the place where the presence of God dwelt

It burned with fire, was dark and stormy

The holiness and power of God was there and no one except Moses were qualified enough to approach it

vs. 19-20 Silence the Voice

The mountain was so intimidating that the Jews begged for Moses to silence the voice

Whenever the voice of God spoke to the People the begged for Moses to silence it

Deuteronomy 18:16 ESV

just as you desired of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’

When we make our life all about rules we don’t want to hear the voice of the Lord

The voice of the Lord convicts us of our unholiness and shows us how far we are falling short of God’s standard

vs. 20 they could not endure what was commanded

Are you trying to silence the Word of God in your life?

vs. 21 Tremble w/ Fear

Finally, when you lead a life lead by the law you tremble with fear

The presence of the Lord was so intimidating that even Moses trembled with fear

Deuteronomy 9:19 ESV

For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure that the Lord bore against you, so that he was ready to destroy you. But the Lord listened to me that time also.

All this fear did not succeed in promoting holiness among the people of Israel.

It did not succeed in changing the heart of Israel.

40 days later, they worshipped a gold calf and said it was the god that brought them out of Egypt.

People who lead their life based on the law are always controlled by fear

They cover it with arrogance and judgment, but underneath is a very insecure and fearful person

Mountain of Life vs. 22-24

When you lead a life led by the Spirit you are full of life

Now we look at Mount Zion

Mount Zion is the hill that Jerusalem is on

Look at how it described

vs. 22 City of the Living God

The mountain of life is called the city of God

There was no city at Mount Sinai; it was out in the desolate desert

Jerusalem is the center of the universe

That is why there so much violence in the region

The Muslims are trying to wipe out the Jews

Satan knows that is where Jesus is going to reign

It is the source of Life

One day this Jerusalem will be destroyed and replaced with a new Jerusalem filled with an innumerable company of Angels

For the Christian, it is a symbol that Our king is living

vs. 23 Church of the Firstborn

This verse has two important themes

First, we are the church of the firstborn

Jesus came to the living mountain for his church

He is the firstborn, which means he is the rightful heir

We are his bride and he is coming back for us

He is coming for his Bride, the church

All of those who are registered in heaven

Let me tell you that this wedding registration is way better than anything you can get at Target

Are you registered in Heaven?

Is your reservation secured?

Why do we need that reservation?

Because God is the Judge of all

One day we will stand before God and give an account of our life

He is the Judge of all

No one will escape his judgment

vs. 24 Mediator of a New Covenant

The final thing we see on the living

Mount Sinai was marked by fear and terror – Mount Zion is a place of love and forgiveness.

Mount Sinai is in the desert – Mount Zion is the city of the Living God.

Mount Sinai spoke of earthly things – Mount Zion speaks of heavenly things.

At Mount Sinai, only Moses was allowed to draw near to God – at Mount Zion, an innumerable company, a general assembly is invited to draw near.

Mount Sinai was characterized by guilty men in fear – Mount Zion features just men made perfect.

At Mount Sinai, Moses was the mediator – at Mount Zion, Jesus is the mediator.

Mount Sinai brought an Old Covenant, which was ratified by the blood of animals – Mount Zion brought a New Covenant, which is ratified by the blood of God’s precious Son.

Mount Sinai was all about exclusion, keeping people away from the mountain – Mount Zion is all about invitation.

Mount Sinai is all about Law – Mount Zion is all about grace.

Get Ready vs. 25-29

If you are registered in heaven and are full of the life of Christ you need to get ready for his return

vs. 25 Heed the Voice

The first thing you need to do to get ready is heed the voice

The Jews refused to hear the voice in the wilderness

If you refuse to listen to the voice from heaven it will be much worse

You won’t escape eternal judgment

vs. 26 Shake Heaven & Earth

The second thing you need to be ready for is things are gonna shake

Have you ever been through a really good earthquake?

Not one these rollers that you say, “Oh that was fun” afterwards

I’m talking about one of those foundation shaking earthquakes that do some serious damage

I grew up on the San Andreas fault line

Growing up, the running joke was that California would have a quakes so big, we would end up with beach front property

It never happened, but I was involved in some doosies

The Northridge quake on MLK day in 1994 was crazy

Earthquakes show you what is built to last and what wasn’t

Isaiah 65:17 ESV

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.

vs. 27 Strengthen what Cannot be Shaken

The third we need to be ready for is that you will be shaken

Just because we are are part of a kingdom that cannot be shaken doesn’t mean that we won’t go through a time of shaking

God will remove everything that isn’t glorifying to Him

That brings up a good question

If we were shaken down to the foundation, what would remain?

Revelation 3:1–2 (ESV)

“ ‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die,

vs. 28 Offer Acceptable Worship

The fourth thing you need to do is offer acceptable worship

Hebrews 13:15 ESV

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

vs. 29 God is a Consuming Fire

The final thing you need to remember is that God is a consuming fire

Exodus 24:17 ESV

Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel.